Absolute quantitation of quercetin and the glycosides in natural food additives by quantitative NMR

We are developing a simple absolute quantitation method for organic compounds, by means of quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR), with traceability to the International System of Units (SI units). The qNMR method was applied to the absolute quantitation of rutin, isoquercitrin and quercetin in natural food additives, rutin (extract), enzymatically decomposed rutin extract and quercetin, and those compounds as commercial reagents. In this study, 1,4-bis-(trimethylsilyl)benzene-d(4) (1,4-BTMSB-d(4)) whose purity was precisely evaluated on the basis of metrology, was newly used as a qNMR reference material, to be added to the sample solution as an internal standard. The contents of quercetin and quercetin glycosides were calculated from the ratio of the signal intensities of each aromatic proton at the 2' position of the three compounds (these are observed at different chemical shifts) to the eighteen protons of the six methyl groups on 1,4-BTMSB-d(4) used as a qNMR reference material. Rapid and simple qNMR method with only one step process was carried by using 1,4-BTMSB-d(4). It was demonstrated that the purities of rutin, isoquercitrin and quercetin can be separately determined by qNMR without the need for a separation process or reference materials for all the target compounds.     

Biochemical properties of acid-soluble collagens extracted from the skins of underutilised fishes

Acid-soluble collagens (ASCs) were extracted from the skins of several underutilised fishes, namely dusky spinefoot (Siganus fuscescens), sea chub (Kyphosus bigibbus), eagle ray (Myliobatis tobijei), red stingray (Dasyatis akajei) and yantai stingray (Dasyatis laevigata). The yields of the ASCs from skins of dusky spinefoot and sea chub were about 3.4–3.9%, and from ray species were about 5.3–5.7%, on a dry weight basis. According to the electrophoretic pattern, ASCs consisted of two different α-chains (α1 and α2) and were classified as type I collagen. However, the molecular weights of α2-chain for ray species were lower than those of bony fishes. ASC from ray species contained a higher content of imino acids than those from dusky spinefoot and sea chub. The denaturation temperatures (T_d) of ray species were about 33 °C, which was about 5 °C higher than those of dusky spinefoot and sea chub. The high T_d of ray species suggested the possibility of its utilisation as a substitute for mammalian collagen.     

Effect of Mixed Grain Sizes on the Thermoelectric Propertiesof Ca0.9Yb0.1MnO3

Ca_0.9Yb_0.1MnO₃ has been identified as a material that might be suitable for thermoelectric applications. We fabricated micro/nanograined Ca_0.9Yb_0.1MnO₃ composites, with the aim of controlling the passage of electrons and phonons simultaneously. Micro/nanograined Ca_0.9Yb_0.1MnO₃ composites containing various fractions of nanosized powder were prepared by sintering mixtures of microparticulate and nanoparticulate Ca_0.9Yb_0.1MnO₃, obtained by solid-state reaction and by gas-phase reaction, respectively. The electrical resistivity increased markedly when the weight fraction of nanosized powder exceeded 50%, probably as a result of a percolation phenomenon. However, the thermal conductivity was considerably reduced when the weight fraction of nanosized powder exceeded 25%, but then remained almost constant. The absolute values of the Seebeck coefficient of micro/nanograined Ca_0.9Yb_0.1MnO₃ composites were larger than those of monolithic micro- or nanograin Ca_0.9Yb_0.1MnO₃, probably as a result of the effects of potential-barrier scattering. The highest dimensionless figure of merit ZT value of 0.09 at 973 K was achieved with a sample containing 50% nanosized powder, and this value is 10% larger than that of monolithic micrograined Ca_0.9Yb_0.1MnO₃.     

Cellular origin of dysiherbaine, an excitatory amino acid derived from a marine sponge

The cellular origin of dysiherbaine, a marine-sponge toxin, was investigated immunohistochemically by using an anti-dysiherbaine antibody. Dysiherbaine-like immunoreactivity was found to be localized in spherical cells harbored in the sponge mesohyl. A combination of ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) analysis and cell-morphology analysis revealed that the spherical cells were Synechocystis cyanobacteria. However, the sponge, identified as Lendenfeldia chondrodes on the basis of its rDNA sequence, appeared to contain two different chemotypes--dysiherbaine-producing (DH+) and nondysiherbaine-producing (DH-)--both of which inhabited the same region. Synechocystis cells in the DH- sponge were not labeled with antibody, although the 16S rDNA gene profile of the cyanobacteria in the DH- sponge was indistinguishable from that of the cyanobacteria in the DH+ sponge. On the basis of these results, we hypothesize that dysiherbaine is a metabolite of certain varieties of endosymbiotic Synechocystis sp.     

Visual and semantic processing in reading Kanji.

A. Nakagawa (see record 1992-15549-001) showed hemispheric asymmetries during semantic processing of single English words. The right hemisphere passively maintained both strong and weak associations, whereas the left hemisphere maintained only strong associations when Ss were left free to attend. The present study extends the methodology to the study of Kanji characters. Contrary to the study of English characters, there was a general right-hemisphere advantage in single-character Kanji words. A study using a visual cue to direct attention suggested that the right-hemisphere advantage of Kanji was due to better representation of visual features by the posterior right hemisphere. However, the pattern of semantic priming found in English was replicated. Semantic analysis, mediated by more anterior systems, appears similar in the 2 languages. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the fecal Materials of Mactra veneriformis and Excrement of Marphysa sanguinea

The concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was measured in the sediment, a bivalve (Mactra veneriformis), fecal materials (feces and pseudofeces) of M. veneriformis, and excrement (feces) of an annelid (Marphysa sanguinea), which were collected in the Yoro tidal flat in Chiba, Japan. The total PAH concentration was 350 μg/kg-dry in the fecal materials of M. veneriformis and 977 μg/kg-dry in the excrement of M. sanguinea; these values were about 8–23 times as large as that of the sediment. The concentration of the fecal materials stayed constant even after 24 h, whereas that of the excrement decreased to half in 2 h. The sediment and fecal materials of M. veneriformis showed a high level of PAHs with lower molecular weight such as phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene; on the other hand, the excrement of M. sanguinea showed a high level of PAHs with higher molecular weight such as chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, and perylene. The logarithm of the concentration factor, defined as the ratio of the concentration of individual PAHs in the fecal materials or excrement to that in the sediment, correlated with the logarithm of the n-octanol/water partition coefficient for the PAHs (R ² = 0.803). These findings indicate that the sources and characteristics of the fecal materials of M. veneriformis and the excrement of M. sanguinea are different.     

KRAS and MAPK1 Gene Amplification in Type II Ovarian Carcinomas

In this study, we examined the clinical significance of KRAS and MAPK1 amplification and assessed whether these amplified genes were potential therapeutic targets in type II ovarian carcinoma. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and retrospectively collected clinical data, KRAS and MAPK1 amplifications were identified in 9 (13.2%) and 5 (7.4%) of 68 type II ovarian carcinoma tissue samples, respectively. Interestingly, co-amplification of KRAS and MAPK1 seemed to be absent in the type II ovarian carcinomas tested, except one case. Active phospho-ERK1/2 was identified in 26 (38.2%) out of 68 type II ovarian carcinomas and did not correlate with KRAS or MAPK1 amplification. There was no significant relationship between KRAS amplification and overall or progression-free survival in patients with type II ovarian carcinoma. However, patients with MAPK1 amplification had significantly poorer progression-free survival than patients without MAPK1 amplification. Moreover, type II ovarian carcinoma cells with concomitant KRAS amplification and mutation exhibited dramatic growth reduction following treatment with the MEK inhibitor PD0325901. These findings indicate that KRAS/MAPK1 amplification is critical for the growth of a subset of type II ovarian carcinomas. Additionally, RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway-targeted therapy may benefit selected patients with type II ovarian carcinoma harboring KRAS/MAPK1 amplifications.     

Application of graft-type poly(ether ether ketone)-based polymer electrolyte membranes to electrochemical devices – Fuel cells and electrolytic enrichment of tritium

The polymer electrolyte membrane consisting of poly(styrenesulfonic acid)-grafted poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK-PEM) was investigated for application to two electrochemical devices; a fuel cell and electrolytic enrichment of tritium. For fuel cells, high temperature operation has been required from the viewpoints of simplification of cooling systems, heat recovery systems and so forth, and durability is one critical issue affecting practical use. We performed a long term durability test for PEEK-PEM (ion exchange capacity = 2.4 mmol/g, conductivity = 0.15 S/cm) under the condition of 110 °C and 50% relative humidity, and achieved a lifetime of 1500 h at a constant current of 0.3 A/cm². The cell voltage maintained 97% of initial voltage after 1300 h of operation. There have been only a few reports that PEMs exhibit longer lifetime than 1000 h at temperatures above 100 °C. For quantitative evaluation of tritium concentration in low-level tritiated water such as environmental water, the tritium enrichment by a solid polymer electrolysis (SPE) method is required prior to the tritium concentration measurements. The SPE device composed of PEEK-PEMs with IECs of 0.9–1.2 mmol/g showed a tritium enrichment ratio of 1.35 at 30 °C, which is 20% higher than that of Nafion. Higher tritium enrichment ratios in PEEK-PEM are explained by the smaller amount of transported water. The water transport coefficient in PEEK-PEM is ～1, which is a half value of Nafion. In addition, the water transport coefficient of PEEK-PEM shows less temperature dependence, at least, up to 60 °C. These features have advantages in electrolytic enrichment of tritium for practical use.     

Effects of the fermentation product of herbs by lactic acid bacteria against phytopathogenic filamentous fungi and on the growth of host plants

The fermentation product of herbs by lactic acid bacteria (FHL) was assayed for antifungal activities against Rosellinia necatrix, Helicobasidium mompa, Fusarium oxysporum, Pythium graminicola and Pyricularia oryzae. FHL completely inhibited the growth of R. necatrix, H. mompa, P. graminicola and P. oryzae, and reduced the growth of F. oxysporum by 35%. When the seeds of Medicago sativa L. (alfalfa), Asparagus officinalis L. (asparagus), Brassica campestris L. (komatsuna), Oryza sativa L. (rice), Spinacia oleracea L. (spinach), Festuca arundinacea Schreb. (tall fescue), and Lycopersicum esculentum Mill. (tomato) were put on plates containing 0.69 mg/ml FHL, their germination rates did not decrease. The root elongation of A. officinalis, B. campestris, O. sativa, and L. esculentum seedlings was suppressed on plates containing 6.92 mg/ml FHL, but the root elongation of M. sativa was not suppressed on the 6.92 mg/ml FHL plate. When FHL was diluted to less than 1.73 mg/ml, the diluted FHL solution did not suppress the germination of B. campestris seeds, but it suppressed the root elongation of B. campestris seedlings. An FHL concentration higher than 0.35 mg/ml hastened the growth of seedlings of B. campestris in the presence of a chemical fertilizer but delayed the growth of these seedlings in the absence of the chemical fertilizer, suggesting that inorganic elements could affect the efficiency of FHL.     

Solid electrolyte films in controlling their structures by electrophoretic deposition method

Improvement of proton conductivity of solid electrolyte films needs to form three-dimensional proton conduction paths by controlling the pore size and the pore structure between particles in particle films. A particle assemble method using electrophoretic deposition technique is useful for speedy and mass production assembly. In the electrophoretic deposition method, structure of particle array can be controlled by the electric field.As a result, the proton conductivity of the film showed a higher value for the regularly-arranged particle film and it is increased with a decrease in particle diameter. The proton conductivity of the film with the particles of diameter 50 nm had the highest value. The particle film with the well-controlled structure may enable the fuel cell to be operated in the middle temperature range.